Systems and methods for etching materials

• US 20080179301A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Simaan, Nabil, Brenner, David J., Randers-Pehrson, Gerhard, Garty, Guy, Yao, Y. Lawrence, Salerno, Alessio, Bhatla, Anubha
• Application Number:
  US11/895,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179301A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.69
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 30/10 by measuring physical properties, e.g. mass
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/12 for screening libraries

Abstract

Systems and methods for etching materials are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include methods for marking at least one capillary, including etching the at least one capillary with a laser, as well as methods for reading the resulting markings using a second laser. Further embodiments incorporate the second laser within a barcode reader. Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include capillaries having outer diameters of about 2 mm. In some embodiments, the capillary is moved while the first laser marks the capillary.

Claims

1. A method of marking a cylindrical capillary comprising:

(a) etching a marking on to the capillary using a first laser; and

(b) reading the marking using a second laser.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second laser is embodied in a barcode reader.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the capillary has an outer diameter of about 2 mm.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving the capillary as the first laser is etching a marking on the capillary.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving the light emitted by the second laser using movable mirrors.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first laser is at a predetermined distance from the capillary.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking comprises a code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking comprises a bar code.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising filling the capillary with a biological sample.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the etching of the marking is performed before the capillary is filled with a biological sample.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the etching of the marking is performed after the capillary is filled with a biological sample.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking comprises text.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking comprises text and a barcode.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first laser and the second laser are the same laser.

15. An apparatus for identifying a capillary vessel comprising:

(a) a first laser adapted to mark the capillary vessel; and

(b) a second laser adapted to read the mark.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the capillary vessel has a diameter of about 2 mm.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mark is a bar code.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mark is text.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the capillary vessel is filled with a biological sample.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the second laser is coupled to a computer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising information which corresponds to the mark on the capillary vessel.

22. A system for identifying a capillary tube comprising:

(a) a means for marking the capillary tube by etching; and

(b) a means for reading the etched marking.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the means for marking comprises a laser.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the means for reading comprises a laser.

25. A method of marking a cylindrical capillary comprising:

(a) etching a marking on to the capillary using a laser; and

(b) reading the marking using a charge-coupled device (CCD).

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the CCD is embodied in a barcode reader.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the capillary has an outer diameter of about 2 mm.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising moving the capillary as the laser is etching a marking on the capillary.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the laser is at a predetermined distance from the capillary.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the marking comprises a code.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the marking comprises a bar code.

32. A method of marking a cylindrical capillary comprising:

(a) etching a marking on to the capillary using a laser; and

(b) reading the marking using a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device (CMOS).

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the CMOS is embodied in a barcode reader.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the capillary has an outer diameter of about 2 mm.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising moving the capillary as the laser is etching a marking on the capillary.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the laser is at a predetermined distance from the capillary.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the marking comprises a code.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the marking comprises a bar code.